Lama Zopa Rinpoche recently spent several weeks at Tso Pema (Lotus Lake, also known as Rewalsar) in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. Rinpoche went to Tso Pema to receive rare oral transmissions on vinaya (monastic discipline) from the abbot of Zigar Monastery, a Kagyü monastery in Tso Pema. Rinpoche also spent time doing personal retreat and circumambulating the lake.

Tso Pema is closely associated with the 8th-century Indian Buddhist master Padmasambhava, or Guru Rinpoche. According to the story, Padmasambhava angered the king of the area by teaching Dharma to his daughter. The king had Padmasambhava burned alive in a pyre that created great clouds of smoke. But after several days, a lake appeared in the same spot and Padmasambhava was sitting in the middle of the lake on a lotus and the king came to see the error of his ways.

There are many holy sites in the area, which Rinpoche visited, including the cave where Padmasambhava meditated, Zangdok Palri Palace Monastery, and the 110-foot (34-meter) tall Padmasambhava statue overlooking the lake.

We should train ourselves not to become engrossed in any of the thoughts continuously arising in our mind. Our consciousness is like a vast ocean with plenty of space for thoughts and emotions to swim about and we should not allow our attention to be distracted by any of them.